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Overview

In Writing Wales, Writing Ireland, students will study modern and contemporary English-language writing from Wales and Ireland. The module investigates the ways in which Welsh and Irish writers have articulated the Welsh and Irish experiences in all their diversity. Students will consider how writers have contributed to social and political change in both countries, and address themes including: - literature and national identity in modern Wales and Ireland; the power of literature to change society; gender roles and sexuality; the journey from child to adulthood; class and status, especially working-class writing; religion, conflict and post-conflict resolution; industrialisation and post-industrialisation; relationship to England/Britain; relationship to the Welsh and Irish languages; racial diversity and migration; Welsh and Irish gothic; contemporary and future Wales and Ireland. A class visit - usually to sites of literary significance in Dublin - will be an optional extra!

The module's syllabus will be updated each year, but students can expect some of the following themes:

• literature and national identity in modern Wales and Ireland
• the power of literature to change society
• gender roles and sexuality
• the journey from child to adulthood
• class and status, especially working-class writing
• religion, conflict and post-conflict resolution
• industrialisation and post-industrialisation
• relationship to England/Britain
• relationship to the Welsh and Irish languages
• racial diversity and migration
• Welsh and Irish gothic
• contemporary and future Wales and Ireland

Typical authors may include: Sally Rooney (Normal People), Lisa McGee (Derry Girls), Alys Conran (Pigeon), Niall Griffiths (Sheepshagger), Eimear McBride (A Girl Is a Half-formed Thing), Dylan Thomas (poems), W.B. Yeats (selected poems), Caradoc Evans (My People), R.S. Thomas (poems), Lewis Jones (Cwmardy), Tristan Hughes (Revenant), Gillian Clarke (poems), Rachel Trezise (In and Out of the Goldfish Bowl) Hannan Issa (poems), Adiba Jaigirdar (Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating).

Assessment Strategy

Excellent Typically, work graded A- to A** (or 70 to 100) will show many of the following qualities: • Discusses ideas with confidence and precision • Demonstrates maturity and sophistication • Displays deep knowledge of the subject in question; the answer is totally relevant • Shows independent, analytical and clear thought • Gives evidence of substantial and relevant reading • Shows great accuracy in expression, displaying total mastery over all aspects of the language • Shows occasional signs of brilliance and originality of thought • In creative work: displays considerable originality • Command over medium; may have potential for publication/production

Good Typically, work graded B- to B+ (or 60 to 69) will show many of the following qualities: • Discusses ideas adeptly • Most of the arguments about a specific field are well-aired • Displays knowledge of the subject in question; the answer is relevant • Shows analytical and clear thought • Gives evidence of relevant reading • Shows accuracy in expression with mastery over language. • A few minor errors here and there. • Signs of creative thought deserve a higher position within the class • In creative work: shows signs of originality, having understood the requirements of the medium • Plans of well-balanced and full answers, despite some gaps

Satisfactory Typically, work graded C- to C+ (or 50 to 59) will show many of the following qualities: • Discusses ideas, but without much confidence • A respectable effort but not showing any unusual talent; a few flashes of originality here and there • Makes reference to the subject in question, but some important matters not mentioned • Fairly clear thought on most occasions, and the arguments relevant on the whole • Evidence of having read some works associated with the field in question • Quite accurate expression, though the points may sometimes be presented clumsily • Signs of conscientious work deserve a higher position within the class • In creative work: not having quite mastered the requirements of the medium • Evidence of planning in the answers, but a lack of coherence at times; undisciplined and unsure at times

Pass Typically, work graded D- to D+ (or 40 to 49) will show many of the following qualities: • Unsure and lacking in confidence when discussing ideas • Referring to the subject in question in a superficial manner • Making an effort to provide fairly balanced answers • Some points in the argument irrelevant to the topic • Little evidence of background reading • Some uncertainty over language and syntax • Strengths and weaknesses fairly balanced; occasionally clumsy and unimaginative • In creative work: superficial • Not succeeding in mastering the requirements of the medium

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse the relationship between form and content in Welsh and Irish literature.

• Discuss the relationship between Welsh and Irish texts and their historic and cultural contexts.

• Identify and analyse key themes in Welsh and Irish literature, drawing on appropriate secondary reading.

• Recognise and describe a variety of genres employed by modern and contemporary authors, and examine individual texts within their generic context.